Tshabalala-Msimang dies

16th December 2009 by Juanita

Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, South Africa’s health minister from 1999 to 2008, has died.

Professor Jeff Wing, Tshabalala-Msimang’s doctor, said she had died at the Wits University Donald Gordon Medical Centre & Medi-Clinic ICU “about a minute ago”, shortly before 3pm.

He said she had died from complications related to her first liver transplant in 2007.

Her most recent position in the government was minister in the Presidency under president Kgalema Motlanthe, but she was not included in the first cabinet of President Jacob Zuma, which was announced in May 2009. - IOL & Sapa

Pay your tributes here…

SA music in 2009: The good, the bad…

9th December 2009 by Renee Moodie

Tonight music writer Therese Owen has taken a look at the year behind us, and come up with some hot and some not so hot choices.

Her artist of the year is the Parlotones, and song of the year is ka Mo Dira by Nutty Nys.

What got you going in 2009?

What to call a Twilight fan?

24th November 2009 by Renee Moodie

As Twilight mania sweeps the world, Twilight fans, staff fell to musing:  what should fans of the vampire movies be called?

Twilighters?

Twilovers?

Twihards?

Let us know what you think… and any other suggestions?

Seen New Moon? What did you think?

23rd November 2009 by Renee Moodie

Reuters reports that the Twilight sequel New Moon scored the third-biggest opening weekend of all time at the North American box office, as millions of young women swooned over the complex love triangle involving a high school girl, a vampire and a werewolf.

The Twilight Saga: New Moon earned an estimated $140.7-million during its first three days of release across the United States and Canada, closely held distributor Summit Entertainment said, crushing industry expectations.

In South Africa, the film had midnight screenings of New Moon at selected cinemas over the weekend. The film will screen once a day at 5.30pm on selected Nu Metro cinemas, from Sunday to Thursday, and officially opens on Friday November 27.  Tonight movie writer Theresa Smith has seen the film and done a review (with trailer). Have you seen it? Tell us what you think? If you aren’t going to see it, tell us why not!

Who’s the hottest of them all?

19th November 2009 by Juanita

So People magazine reckons Pirates Of The Caribbean star Johnny Depp is the sexiest man alive.

I think it’s because he plays a bad boy so well - and we all know how women love those…

Depp beat Hugh Jackman for the position. Jackman’s not half bad.

Thank goodness those Twilight boys didn’t even get a look-in…

What would your choice be?

Who rules the pretty roost in the Twilight zone?

17th November 2009 by Renee Moodie

Later this week, if you are keen, you can go and see a midnight preview of The Twilight Saga: New Moon.

Previews are set for Nu Metro Cinemas on Friday (November 20). The film is also scheduled for sneak 5.30pm previews from Sunday, November 22, until Thursday, November 26, at select Nu Metro Cinemas.  The film  releases nationally on Friday November 27.

And the question on everybody’s mind is this: will rising star Taylor Lautner really eclipse Robert Pattinson? Tonight has carried some stories on the subject (Taylor rises in New Moon, and Move over Rob, there’s a new hunk in town): who gets your vote as the prettiest?

Darren a deserving winner?

13th November 2009 by Renee Moodie

Durban’s Darren Rajbal has danced away with the SA’s Got Talent first prize.

Read the story on Tonight, see the picture gallery… and then tell us if you think the right person won.

Opinion at IOL is divided: Darren fans are ecstatic, and there are those who were rooting for George…

SA’s Got Talent: who is going to win?

12th November 2009 by Renee Moodie

Tonight is the final of SA’s Got Talent. The contenders are:

• Kalon Badenhorst, the twelve-year-old hip hop/contemporary dancer, from Johannesburg
• Singers Willem and Louis Van Der Merwe, from Stellenbosch
• Beat boxer George Avakian, from Johannesburg
• Guitarist Louwtjie Rothman, from Cape Town
• Hearing-impaired hip hop dancer Darren Rajbal, from Durban
• Eight-year-old singer Cleo Filander,  from Vereeniging

SA’s Got Talent fanatics in the IOL office are rooting for Darren… Who gets your vote?

Joost’s to-do list

5th November 2009 by Renee Moodie

So, call me extra cynical, but this is the list that former Springbok Joost van der Westhuizen keeps in his top pocket…

1. Deny everything about bad video. If that doesn’t work, go to point 2.

2. Stage dramatic and public stress-related collapse to see if public sympathy gets any better. If  doesn’t work, go to point 3.

3. Write book and confess all (book will make enough money to offset risks of other lost income). Make sure all media get their hands on the book.  Amor to stand by man.

So far so good. Now, what else is on that list?

4. Go to ground for a while.

5. Appear in public on a meaningful day (Christmas, Easter, something like that). (Memo to self: Check when Ray McCauley has a free day in the Rhema Church).  Do handwringing and footwashing and offering self to Lord. Ask everyone for forgiveness - the nation, Amor, the children.

6. If image restored, ask for Supersport job back.

7. Oh and … remember to pay the spin doctor.

Background articles:

Joost’s stripper was not the first - report

‘Joost ripped out my heart’

Joost: Why I lied

I could lose my family, says Joost

Who wants that red carpet experience?

5th November 2009 by Renee Moodie

Reuters has released a package of photographs entitled Red Carpet Nightmares of 2009.

We thought it deserved a picture gallery - and we went further and found some South African celebs who should have known better.

Tell us who gets your vote for the worst outfit!